Influence of wood surface color on the performance of luminescent pigments

Luminescent pigments can be incorporated into coatings for various applications, including safety signage, that provide illuminated directions when lighting systems fail. The influence of the brightness of a solid wood substrate on the persistence performance of luminescent pigments was analyzed. Three species were tested: maple (Acer pseudoplatanus; a brightly colored wood), steamed beech (Fagus sylvatica; a medium-colored wood), and walnut heartwood (Juglans regia; a darkcolored wood). The results show that the surface color has a major influence on the performance of the pigments, when applied in a clear coating. Other significant factors for the afterglowing effect are the amount of pigment and the time and intensity of light during the charging process.